New chief brings variety of experience

Streeter excited for challenges of a growing police department

Incoming Lone Tree Police Chief Jeffrey Streeter held all but three positions during his 24 years with the Lakewood Police Department.

“I can name on one hand the (positions) I did not have,” he said. “I was never a K-9 officer. I was never a narcotics officer. I was never a chief of police.”

On March 4, he’ll add the chief’s title to that lengthy resume.

Streeter fills the post vacated by Lone Tree’s first chief Steve Hasler, who was dismissed without cause in August 2012.

The 50-year-old inherited a passion for police work he already has passed to another generation. Streeter is the son of a police officer, and two of his three sons are college students majoring in criminal justice.

“I had a strong admiration for my dad, and saw the love and passion he had for this job,” he said.

Streeter aims to take the Lone Tree Police Department’s already solid reputation a notch or two higher. The department got a 91 percent approval rating from residents in a recent city survey, an indication of support Streeter said is rare.

“Our whole objective is quality service,” he said. “I’m walking into a department that clearly is doing it very, very well.

“Certainly what Chief Hasler put into place I view as a building block. Now, I’ve got to move this department forward and serve this community, bringing more and different ideas.”

The Denver native attended Denver Public Schools, graduating from Metropolitan State College in 1984 with majors in criminal justice and sociology. He spent three years with the Broomfield Police Department before coming to Lakewood, where his many hats included that of detective, sergeant, patrol commander, SWAT commander, interim division chief and most recently professional standards commander.

Lakewood’s force of 280 sworn officers is nearly six times larger than Lone Tree’s department, but the city is rapidly changing. An estimated 40,000 people someday will live in the RidgeGate development alone. Streeter sees his experience with Broomfield’s department, about the same size as Lone Tree’s when he worked there, coupled with his years in a larger community make him uniquely qualified for his new job.

“This is an agency I foresee will grow,” said Streeter. “I’m excited for the challenges that lie ahead.”

Streeter also is an instructor at Red Rocks Community College Police Academy. He received a 2009 award for help planning Denver’s Democratic National Convention, a 1999 award for SWAT response to the Columbine High School shooting, and a 1992 Police Officer of the Year award from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.

He and his wife Michelle live in Lakewood, and have no immediate plans to move. Streeter is an avid golfer who also enjoys camping, fishing, boating, water and snow skiing with family.

Lone Tree Cmdr. Ron Pinson, who has served as interim chief since September 2012, will resume his position with the city’s Operations Division.

The Lone Tree Police Department was created in 2005.

City Manager Jack Hidahl cast the deciding vote for Streeter after three panels representing the community, police and city staff unanimously recommended him from among six finalists.

Hidahl also made the still-unexplained decision to fire Hasler, which the former chief alleges was retaliation linked to a harassment complaint about Hidahl filed by a female police department employee. Hasler said he intends to file a lawsuit against the city.